Facing Trials and Tests

 

 

Sheila and I saw the weather changing when we drove home from the Sleeping Bear Dunes. We toured along the Lake Michigan shoreline as ominous clouds threatened rain and then delivered it. The wind howled. The waves were enormous. 

It seemed like a great day for taking pictures.

We got to Muskegon. I grabbed my camera and ran down to the water’s edge. Sand drifted around me as I sat in the tempest. The spray drenched me and I wondered if I could possibly get any wetter. 

For 30 minutes I sat there with my camera, watching the gulls and marveling at their control of the situation.

• The wind roared and they soared. 
• The waves pounded the shoreline and they floated above them. 
• I turned my face away from the gale but they flew straight into it. Without flapping their wings they flew; the greater the wind, the greater its lift.

It seemed to me that the squall gave the gulls an opportunity.

The storm simply gave them the chance to fly through it. 

 

James 1:2-4  -  My brothers and sisters, when you have many kinds of troubles, you should be full of joy, because you know that these troubles test your faith, and this will give you patience. Let your patience show itself perfectly in what you do. Then you will be perfect and complete and will have everything you need.